Local News Headlines – Monday, December 14th

THE WINDOM E-D-A MEETS AT NOON TODAY AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON THE ‘SOUTH 40’ ACRES LOCATED NEXT TO THE NORTH WINDOM INDUSTRIAL PARK.  DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON THE ‘SPEC’ BUILDING PROPERTY ON NORTH REDDING AVENUE.  PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPERS WILL BE MAKING PRESENTATIONS.  THE E-D-A MAY ACT TO CHOOSE A DEVELOPER AND APPROVE AN OPTION AGREEMENT.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON THE CEMSTONE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT, INCLUDING POSSIBLE STATE GRANTS.  THE E-D-A WILL DISCUSS ITS GOALS FOR 2021.  THEY WILL DISCUSS A PROPERTY IN THE 400 BLOCK OF RIVER BLUFF DRIVE.  

 

THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD HELD ITS TRUTH-IN-TAXATION HEARING ON THURSDAY.   THE TOTAL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX LEVY, INCLUDING THE AG CREDIT ADJUSTMENT, WILL BE JUST OVER $3.6-MILLION; AN INCREASE OF JUST OVER $100-THOUSAND OR 2.9%.   WITHOUT THE AG TO SCHOOL TAX CREDIT, THE LEVY WOULD SEE A 4% INCREASE.   WINDOM HAS AN OPERATING LEVY REFERENDUM AT $613 PER STUDENT THAT RUNS THROUGH 2022.  ON THE DEBT SERVICE LEVY, THE BOND FOR THE MIDDLE-SCHOOL REMODELING AND EXPANSION WILL EXPIRE IN 2024.  THE BOND FOR THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER RUNS THROUGH THE YEAR 2039. 

 

PEOPLE HAVE MORE TIME TO COMMENT ON THE HIGHWAY 60 CORRIDOR STUDY IN WINDOM.   MN-DOT HAS EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING COMMENTS ON THE PROJECT.  PEOPLE NOW HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST TO READ THE REPORT AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK.  PEOPLE MAY GO TO THE MINN-DOT WEBSITE, VIEW A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE, AND COMPLETE AN ON-LINE SURVEY.  PAPER COPIES OF THE REPORT AND PAPER SURVEY FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE WINDOM CITY HALL, THE WINDOM PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE WINDOM COMMUNITY CENTER.  MINN-DOT IS CONSIDERING OPTIONS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS ON HIGHWAY 60 AND 71 THROUGH WINDOM.   

 

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE WINDOM SCHOOL BOARD WILL BE HELD AT 6:30 TONIGHT AT THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.  EARLY RESIGNATION AGREEMENTS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITH TWO MEMBERS OF THE TEACHING STAFF.  THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER A RESOLUTION INVOLVING FEES DUE TO THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE.  A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONDAY TO CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR RETURNING TO IN-PERSON CLASSES.  THERE WILL BE AN UPDATE ON THE DISTRICT CASH-FLOW SITUATION.  THE BOARD WILL APPROVE PAYMENT OF CONTRACTORS’ BILLS FOR WORK ON THE VARIOUS BUILDING PROJECTS.   

 

THE COTTONWOOD COUNTY BOARD MEETS AT 9:00 TUESDAY MORNING AT THE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER IN WINDOM.    THE PLANNING AND ZONING TECHNICIAN WILL PRESENT THE FINDINGS OF FACT INVOLVING A PETITION SEEKING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED GRAVEL PIT.  A BOND SALE WILL BE APPROVED ON BEHALF OF THE RED ROCK RURAL WATER SYSTEM.   THE WINDOM E-D-A DIRECTOR WILL REQUEST A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR A STATE GRANT APPLICATION.  A DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.  THE BOARD WILL CERTIFY THE 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY.   

 

A MEETING OF THE JACKSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL BE HELD AT 9:00 TUESDAY MORNING IN THE CAFETERIA AT THE JACKSON COUNTY RESOURCE CENTER.   THE BOARD WILL CONSIDER A POSSIBLE APPLICATION FOR A STATE GRANT TO FUND A TRAIL EXTENSION PROJECT.  A CONTRACT MAY BE APPROVED FOR A BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.  FINAL PAYMENTS MAY BE APPROVED FOR SEVERAL COMPLETED HIGHWAY PROJECTS.  FURTHER DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON THE COUNTY’S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.  THE FINAL 2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY WILL BE CERTIFIED AND A SUMMARY BUDGET WILL BE APPROVED.  FUND BALANCES WILL BE ASSIGNED.  

 

THE MURRAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET AT 8:30 TUESDAY MORNING AT THE COUNTY GOVERMENT CENTER IN SLAYTON.  THE FINAL 2021 COUNTY BUDGET WILL BE APPROVED.  THE BOARD WILL CERTIFY THE 2021 COUNTY PROPERTY TAX LEVY.  THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE HIRING OF A HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE WORKER AND A LICENSE CENTER SUPERVISOR.  THEY WILL REVIEW A CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE LIME LAKE DAM PROJECT.   UPDATES WILL BE PROVIDED ON COMPUTER SOFTWARE RENEWALS.  THE BOARD WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON 2021 DITCH LEVIES.